ROTHENBURGER: New federal bill has a good shot on reducing handgun crime

As I wrote at the time, a debate around the Kamloops City council table on banning handguns would be fascinating but certainly not productive.

Trudeau got the message, and instead has tabled a bill that would impose a “national freeze” on buying, importing, transferring, and selling handguns. Rather than an outright ban, the new legislation will be aimed at capping handguns at the current number.

This is the best gun-control legislation the federal Liberals have come up with yet. Handguns are the favourite weapon in firearms offences and Canadians overwhelmingly support restricting their proliferation.

In answer to critics who insist gun-control laws too often target law-abiding gun owners and not the criminals, the bill includes measures against gun smuggling.

It won’t please those who believe a total ban is in order, but this new bill has a good shot — if you’ll excuse the expression — at reducing handgun crime.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.

by Mel Rothenburger

ROTHENBURGER: New federal bill has a good shot on reducing handgun crime

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